Rotating ring graphics

ABSTRACT

A beverage container having a reconfigurable graphics display comprising: (a) a container adapted to receive a beverage for consumption, the container including at least one incomplete image visible from an exterior thereof; and, (b)a first ring mounted to and rotatable about the container, the first ring including at least one graphic associated therewith and adapted to provide a complete image upon rotational alignment of the at least one graphic with the at least one incomplete image.

BACKGROUND

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention is directed to reconfigurable graphics associated with a beverage dispenser, and more specifically to rotating ring graphics for a beverage dispenser that may be selectively manipulated to change the appearance of the beverage dispenser.

2. Background of the Invention

Manipulation of graphics is well known in the art and has been the focus of such toys as Rubik's cube and other games where graphics plays a role in aligning random configurations. More specifically, typical screen savers displayed on computer monitors provide insight into the attention drawn to changing graphics and images. However, such manipulation of graphics has not generally been frequently adapted for functional items such as beverage dispensers.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to reconfigurable graphics associated with a beverage dispenser, and more specifically to rotating ring graphics for a beverage dispenser that may be selectively manipulated to change the appearance of the beverage dispenser. The rotating ring graphics are adapted to be reconfigurable to provide a multitude of different images available from the multitudes of different positions possible. As will be discussed in more detail below, the rotating ring graphics are discussed with respect to an exemplary embodiment for use in a child's sippy cup.

The rotating ring graphics of the present invention comprise at least one resilient ring that is repositionable about a beverage dispenser to provide a multitude of images. The ring and the dispenser may include graphics that are adapted to correspond with each other to relay a particular message or design, only to be reconfigurable to display another message or design. For example, the dispenser may include the heads and below waist features of various animated characters, with the rotating ring including the chest features of such animated characters. The child may then rotate the ring to make silly new animated characters.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a frontal view of an exemplary embodiment incorporating rotating ring graphics in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an overhead view of an exemplary rotating ring in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the exemplary embodiment taken along lines 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a frontal view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 5 is a frontal view of the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 4 with the rotating rings in different positions than in FIG. 4.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The exemplary embodiments of the present invention are described and illustrated below to encompass systems and methods for manipulating images or graphics associated with a beverage dispenser. Of course, it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that the preferred embodiment discussed below is exemplary in nature and may be reconfigured without departing from the scope of the present invention. However, for clarity and precision, the exemplary embodiment includes one or more optional features that one of ordinary skill may recognize as not being a requisite to fall within the scope of the present invention.

Referencing FIGS. 1-3, an exemplary sippy cup 10 in accordance with the present invention includes a lid 12 having a spout 14 from which a child may withdrawal liquid therefrom. The lid 12 is coupled to a container 16 utilizing techniques known to those of ordinary skill to fluidically seal the liquid therein, such as, without limitation, threaded seals.

The overall shape of the container 16 is one resembling an hourglass to facilitate grasping by a child. A taper 18 from the top of the container 16 flows gradually inward to decrease the internal diameter of the container 16 until reaching the trough 20, and thereafter the internal diameter of the container 16 increases until reaching the crest 22. The outer circumference of the container 16 slopes inward until reaching a circumferential base 24. Two circumferential channels 26, 28 are formed into the exterior of the container 16 and are likewise apparent on the inside of the container as inward protruding circumferential mounds mirroring the topography of the channels 26, 28.

Referencing FIGS. 1-3, the circumferential channels 26, 28 are adapted to be occupied by rotating rings 30, 32, respectively. The rotating rings 30, 32 float within the channels 26, 28 to enable continuous rotation (360 degrees) about the container 16. Each ring 30, 32 includes a top flange 34 and a bottom flange 36 that ride within circumferential grooves 38 within the channels 26, 28. A plurality of alignment posts 40 are circumferentially distributed about the interior circumferential surface 42 of each ring 30, 32. The alignment posts facilitate vertical and horizontal alignment of the rings 30, 32 within the channels 26, 28. An outer nipple 44 of each alignment post 40 is adapted to be received within a furrow 46 in the middle of each channel 26, 28. However, it is not required that all or some of the alignment post nipples 44 be in contact with the furrow 46 at any given point along the channel 26, 28.

Referencing FIGS. 4 and 5, the container 16 may include one or more fixed graphics 48 that may or may not correspond directly to one or more rotatable images 50 attributable to the rotating rings 30, 32. By way of example, and not of limitation, the fixed graphics 48 may include portions of a series of animated characters distributed about the container 16. It is preferred that such fixed graphics 48 be spaced and aligned to account for rotation of one or more of the rings 30, 32, such that if one of the fixed graphics 48 is aligned with one of the rotatable images 50, the remainder of the fixed graphics 48 will likewise be aligned with corresponding rotatable images 50. However, it is not required that such alignment be perfect or precise.

Above the first ring 30, a series of animated character heads (optionally including head gear) may be circumferentially distributed about the container 16 to comprise portions of the fixed graphics 48. The first ring 30 itself may include rotatable images 50 comprising segments of animated character torsos having arms or other upper appendages, optionally shown grasping something, such as, without limitation, a flag, a star, a rainbow, etc. The middle section 52 interposing the first ring 30 and second ring 32 may include portions of the fixed graphics 48 circumferentially distributed about the container 16 such as, without limitation, the remainder of the animated character torsos. The second ring 32 may include rotatable images 50 such as, without limitation, legs of animated characters shown wearing different pants, such as blue jeans, shorts, baggy pants, etc. Finally, below the second ring 32, portions of the fixed graphics 48 may be circumferentially distributed about the container 16 to include, such as, without limitation, animated character shoes or feet, such as, without limitation, roller skates, ice skates, sandals, tennis shoes, army boots, etc.

It is also within the scope of the present invention to provide a single rotating ring or more than two rotating rings mounted to and rotatable about a beverage dispenser. Likewise, it is also within the scope of the present invention to provide channels in which the rotating rings float that are not horizontally aligned. It is further within the scope of the present invention to provide channels not parallel to one another that enable rotation of the rings seated therein about the container. It is still further within the scope of the present invention to provide channels that are adjacent to one another, thereby positioning the rotating rings adjacent to one another, where the rotating rings interlock and slide against one another. It is even further within the scope of the present invention to provide graphics that do not include animated characters and instead include scenery that may be manipulated to provide, such as, without limitation, a different horizon, a different sky condition, etc. It is likewise within the scope of the present invention to provide rotating rings that rotate about the container and rotate about each other, where one or more rings include transparent portions that enable the build-up of images or graphics along a single rotational course, such as without limitation, a first ring that provides a background color, as second ring overriding the first ring that provides outlines of images, and a third ring overriding the second ring that provides specific details to incorporate into the outlined images.

Following from the above description and invention summaries, it should be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that, while the apparatus described herein constitutes an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the invention contained herein is not limited to this precise embodiment and changes may be made to such embodiment without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the claims. Additionally, it is to be understood that the invention is defined by the claims and it is not intended that any limitations or elements describing the exemplary embodiment set forth herein are to be incorporated into the interpretation of any claim element unless such limitation or element is explicitly stated. Likewise, it is to be understood that it is not necessary to meet any or all of the identified advantages or objects of the invention disclosed herein in order to fall within the scope of any one of the claims, since the invention is defined by the claims and since inherent and/or unforeseen advantages of the present invention may exist even though they may not have been explicitly discussed herein. 

1. A beverage container having a reconfigurable graphics display comprising: a container adapted to receive a beverage for consumption, the container including at least one incomplete image visible from an exterior thereof; and a first ring mounted to and rotatable about the container, the first ring including at least one graphic associated therewith and adapted to provide a complete image upon rotational alignment of the at least one graphic with the at least one incomplete image.
 2. The beverage container of claim 1, wherein: the container includes a plurality of incomplete images visible from the exterior thereof; and the first ring includes a plurality of graphics.
 3. The beverage container of claim 2, wherein: at least two of the plurality of incomplete images include at least one portion of an animated character; and at least two of the plurality of graphics include at least one corresponding graphic of the animated character adapted to be aligned with at least one portion of the animated character to provide a coherent picture of the animated character.
 4. The beverage container of claim 3, wherein: a first incomplete image of the at least two incomplete images includes a portion of a first animated character; a second incomplete image of the at least two incomplete images includes a portion of a second animated character; a first graphic of the at least two graphics includes a corresponding graphic of the first animated character; a second graphic of the at least two graphics includes a corresponding graphic of the second animated character; the portion of the first incomplete image is adapted to be aligned with the corresponding graphic of the first graphic to provide a coherent picture of the first animated character; and the portion of the second incomplete image is adapted to be aligned with the corresponding graphic of the second graphic to provide a coherent picture of the second animated character.
 5. The beverage container of claim 1, wherein the incomplete image of the container is positioned at least one of wholly above the first ring, wholly below the first ring, and divided by the first ring.
 6. A reconfigurable graphics display for a container comprising: a first ring coupled to and rotatable about a container, the first ring having at least one graphic displayed thereon; and a second ring coupled to and rotatable about the container, the second ring having at least one graphic displayed thereon; wherein the at least one graphic of the first ring is repositionable with respect to the at least one graphic of the second ring to create a different display by rotating the first ring with respect to the second ring.
 7. The reconfigurable graphics display of claim 6, wherein: the first ring is at least partially received within a first trench at least partially circumscribing the container; and the second ring is at least partially received within a second trench at least partially circumscribing the container.
 8. The reconfigurable graphics display of claim 6, wherein: the first ring includes a plurality of graphics displayed thereon; and the second ring includes a plurality of graphics displayed thereon.
 9. The reconfigurable graphics display of claim 8, wherein: the plurality of graphics of the first ring include at least one portion of an animated character; and the plurality of graphics of the second ring include at least one corresponding portion of the animated character adapted to be aligned with the at least one portion of the animated character to provide a coherent picture of the animated character.
 10. The reconfigurable graphics display of claim 9, wherein: at least two of the plurality of graphics of the first ring include at least one portion of a different animated character; and at least two of the plurality of graphics of the second ring include at least one corresponding portion of each different animated character adapted to be aligned with the portion of the different animated character to provide a coherent picture of the different animated character and collectively to provide at least two coherent pictures of different animated characters.
 11. The reconfigurable graphics display of claim 10, wherein: the first ring is separated from the second ring by a panel of the container, the panel of the container having a plurality of representations corresponding to the graphics of the first ring and the second ring, where the first ring and the second ring are rotatable in relation to the panel and are adapted to provide the at least two coherent pictures of the different animated characters upon alignment of the graphics and representations.
 12. A beverage container having a rotating graphics display adapted to be manipulated by children to rearrange elements of one or more images viewable from the exterior of the beverage container comprising: a container including a first panel exhibiting visible graphics; a first rotating member coupled to and rotatable with respect to the container, the first rotating member having a first set of graphics associated therewith; and a second rotating member coupled to and rotatable with respect to the container, the second rotating member having a second set of graphics associated therewith; wherein the first rotating member and the second rotating member are repositionable with respect to each other to align the first set of graphics with the second set of graphics and concurrently align the first set of graphics and the second set of graphics with the visible graphics of the container to provide a coherent picture.
 13. The beverage container of claim 12, wherein the first panel at least partially separates the first rotating member from the second rotating member.
 14. The beverage container of claim 13, wherein: the first panel is integrally formed into the container; the first rotating member is adapted to travel at least partially within a first channel within the exterior of the container; and the second rotating member is adapted to travel at least partially within a second channel within the exterior of the container.
 15. The beverage container of claim 14, wherein: the first channel is at least substantially parallel to the second channel; the first panel is bounded at least in part by the first channel and the second channel; the first rotating member includes a first ring structure having at least two circumferential rails adapted to slide against the first channel to rotate the first rotating member with respect to the container; and the second rotating member includes a second ring structure having at least two circumferential rails adapted to slide against the second channel to rotate the second rotating member with respect to the container.
 16. The beverage container of claim 15, wherein: the first ring structure includes at least three circumferential guides positioned along an internal circumferential surface adapted to face the first channel; and the second ring structure includes at least three circumferential guides positioned along an internal circumferential surface adapted to face the second channel.
 17. The beverage container of claim 16, wherein: the at least three circumferential guides of the first ring structure float within the first channel during rotation of the first rotating member; and the at least three circumferential guides of the second ring structure float within the second channel during rotation of the second rotating member.
 18. The beverage container of claim 12, wherein the first panel is rotatable about the container.
 19. The beverage container of claim 12, wherein at least two of the visible graphics, the first set of graphics, and the second set of graphics include elements of an animated character.
 20. The beverage container of claim 12, wherein the visible graphics, the first set of graphics, and the second set of graphics each include an element of an animated character.
 21. The beverage container of claim 12, wherein the visible graphics, the first set of graphics, and the second set of graphics each include elements of animated characters. 